This weekend, I have had a little slump, no energy, tired, easily frustrated… on Saturday I put A up for sale… the best offer I got was from CW, I really thought of giving her away. It was just a little stressful… But the Lord is good even in those kind of not so good days.
Saturday night a friend called and we had such a good talk. I was so blessed by our conversation and just wished KS to be in the room with me rather than miles away. I think that started my slump to go away.
Then Sunday morning I had a skype call with a group of girlfriends who were getting together to make a care package for us and pray for us. It was such a blessing to talk to them and hear all their voices and a little bit about their lives. AH, so excited for your new condo… can’t wait to see it. JM, I still haven’t seen your condo, but you invited us over so we’ll take you up on that offer. I heard of a pregnancy (which facebook already told me), a death, some creepy things… and so much more. A had a great time talking to them too, she especially liked talking to RB… she really misses you girl. That phone conversation started the best day here so far. A and I went to church afterward. The praise was so good… I love that I could really praise in this language with my heart knowing all the words… the sermon was good too and he was really funny. Another plus to the day… I understood the jokes and the message. Ha ha… After church, I took A to one of my favorite places… it’s a huge flea market in the center of a huge field. Sundays are the only day it happens. It is the place to go for everyone. A loved it. There is cheap shopping, rides, cotton candy, monkey shows, people, food, and so much more. It’s great. P never really liked it, it was too crowded for him. But I just love it. It’s just so much fun. Bargaining, people watching, going on rides (for A), eating… ugh… I love it and I loved that A loved it. We hung out there for like an hour and a half, walking around, looking at what they have, watched the monkey show… then we went to McDonald’s for lunch. The morning ended with coming home and taking naps.
In the afternoon, kids came to play. A’s sometimes funny. She’ll invite kids to come over and play and then watch them from inside. I sometimes get frustrated with her because then the kids are just calling her name through the window and she wants me to play with her. It happened today, so I told her if she asks friends to come over, she has to play with them and that I would not play with her. Attitude started rising, in both of us. So I prayed real quick and asked the Lord to work in both our hearts… A’s so that she would want to play and me that I would be understanding and be a fun mom. Within minutes of praying, A said she wanted to go out. I was watching her play and it was the best time she had outside since we’ve been here. She played cooking, built, played with a balloon and then… she did something that all our neighbor kids love to do… there is a little hill kiddy corner to our house, and the kids take a piece of wood and slide down the hill (kind of like what college kids do with trays when it snows). I look out at one point and there she is, on a piece of wood, sliding down the hill with a huge smile on her face. I was so proud of her. While she was playing, the Lord worked on my heart and gave me an idea. I took an empty box we have in our house and started to decorate it to make it into a stove for A to use while she cooks. I prayed… within minutes the Lord changed both our hearts and with a smile on our face, we did what the Lord wanted us to do. It was so much fun to see her play and to make something for my little girl. She loves the stove and brought in her friend to cook with her. God is so good in answering prayers. Yes answers are sometimes delayed and we have to wait, but I love the ones where He shows it to us quickly, it makes waiting for the ones we have to wait on worth it… you know He’s still working on it and there is a good plan for it. The quick ones are like little reminders that He’s still there.
Tomorrow A goes to school. I’m worried I’m going to ball as I leave the school. Praying for both of us to be emotionally okay for this.
As I talked to my friend last night, she was just talking about how far the Lord’s brought me… I have to agree on that. From days that were so foggy and numb, to actually smiling again and feeling joy. From walking through the most difficult part of my life in detail with my counselor, to revisiting a place once called home. From nights of crying myself to sleep and scared to close my eyes, to the Lord stirring hopes, dreams and a future in my heart. From dark days of wondering when it would end, to looking forward to what the Lord has for me next. From not wanting to ever be in the country that brought so much pain, to moving here again to see what the Lord has in store for me. These are some amazing things the Lord has done in my life, and seriously He has brought me far. What a blessing to see God’s gracious hand at work in my life, so intimately and personally. It’s just great.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Today we had an excellent day. A started school and had so much fun. (hopefully we could put up pictures- our internet has been a little funny lately) She cried a little when i left, but it didn't last long i was told. A is so cute. She had snack at school and when i went to pick her up, she had wrapped leftover snack for me. she has been doing that... even at church when they have a snack, she'll save one for me, even if the chocolate melts in her hand. ugh you have to love the girl. :)
last week i ordered a jungle gym for A for our yard. we have a little cement area in the front and i asked a guy to make a metal one for me. they did such a good job. again hopefully i could put pictures up. it came this afternoon and A couldn't even nap... we had kids in our yard waiting for them to be done putting it together. then we had so many kids in our yard climbing, swinging and laughing. it was great!!! praise God for the opportunity to provide for A and the kids in our neighborhood a place to play.
it's been a great two days. i was thinking how my girlfriends got together to pray for us and it's been showing fruit already. thanks girls... and everyone else who prays for us too. keep praying.
